Most Valuable Asian Companies

Asia’s top companies have been buffeted over the past year by surging crude oil prices, Japan’s earthquake and nuclear crisis, and the flood and cyclone disasters in Australia.

But with record profits, strong economic growth and plenty of help from the liquidity provided by the world’s central banks, these firms have continued to increase their value.

According to market capitalization data from Reuters, 11 of the top 20 most valuable Asian companies are Chinese, as of April 14, 2011. Nearly half a dozen of them are Australian firms; three are Japanese and one each Indian and South Korean.